SQL Query to retrieve the All records based on the Max Dates.

Question

Hello all,
I am trying to retrieve the newest record based on the date field (  nextDate  ).
Currently there are only 4 records in the MC_Maintenance table and two in the Machine table.
Machine table
MC_id             EquipID          
1                      0227
MC_id             EquipID
2                     0228
MC_Maintenance table
Maint_id           MC_id             Next_maint                  
1                      2                      08/25/2010     
2                      2                      07/01/2010
3                      1                      06/11/2010
4                      1                      07/11/2010
What I  am trying to accomplish is,
list the two machines from the Machine table with the MAX(Next_maint) controlling the MC_Maintenance output list
These are the records that I would like to Display.
Maint_id           MC_id             Next_maint                  
1                      2                      08/25/2010
4                      1                      07/11/2010                 
Below is the SQL Query
SELECT
       MC.MC_ID as ID,
        MC.complete_Date as completed,
        MC.next_maint as nextDate,
        MC.maint_notes as Notes,
        MC.facility as Facility,
        M.EquipId,
        M.name as name,
        M.SerialNumber as SN,
        M.dept as dept,
        M.Freq as freq
        From  MC_Maintenance MC, Machine M
        where  MC.MC_ID =  M.MC_ID
'           USING MAX(nextDate )
Any ideas would help.
TJ

Answer 1

I would have thought that was a simple group by problem?
SELECT M.EquipID, MC.MC_ID, Max(MC.next_maint)
FROM MC_Maintenance MC INNER JOIN Machine M ON MC.MC_ID = M.MC_ID
GROUP BY M.EquipID, MC.MC_ID